L-Rhamnose Enhances the Immunogenicity of Melanoma-Associated Antigen A3 for Stimulating Antitumor Immune Responses

Bioconjug Chem. 2016 Apr 20;27(4):1112-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.6b00081. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Abstract

Vaccines based on melanoma-associated antigens (MAGEs) present a promising strategy for tumor immunotherapy, albeit with weak immunogenicity. In this study, the xenoantigen L-rhamnose (Rha) was chemically conjugated with truncated MAGE-A3 (tMAGE-A3) to generate Rha-tMAGE-A3. The product showed good antigenicity with anti-Rha antibodies purified from human serum. FITC-labeled Rha-tMAGE-A3 was detected in THP-1 human macrophage cells via the anti-Rha antibody-dependent antigen uptake process. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with Rha-tMAGE-A3 in the presence of anti-Rha antibodies showed better cytotoxicity toward A375 human melanoma cells surfaced by MAGE-A3 antigen compared to PBMCs stimulated with tMAGE-A3. All data reveal that linking of Rha epitopes to MAGE enhances the immunogenicity of MAGE by harnessing the immune effector functions of human naturally existing anti-Rha antibodies. Rha epitopes could become immunogenicity enhancers of tumor associated antigens in the development of tumor immunotherapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / metabolism*
  • Rhamnose / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Rhamnose